Today Sport Court® named the three finalists for a new Court Award program, which will provide a court surface to a not-for-profit, Sport for Development group. The winner will be announced on Oct. 28 at the Beyond Sport Summit in Johannesburg.
The company will award a professional-grade Sport Court® playing surface to a Sport for Development organization that has built a long-term, sustainable sports programming platform. The award guidelines were that an organization must have a solid organizational framework and have demonstrated the ability to maintain consistent programming and facility upkeep.
Sport Court received applications from over 28 countries for this first-ever court award through the company's Courts for Communities program to build a safe place to play for youth in their community. Applicants were asked to show ownership or partnership for rights to land, an on-going programing plan, a history of growth and achievement, and a need for a safe play surface.
"All three finalists for the Court Award program have shown not only a need for a premium quality, safe court surface, but also the ability to provide on-going programing that will improve the lives of youth in their communities," said Brandi Bloodworth Connolly, Sr. Director for Connor Sport Court International. "We are honored to have the chance to assist these organizations in their continued use of Sport for Development."
The finalists are: IndoChina Starfish, Cambodia; Dandor Dumpsite Rehabilitation Group, Kenya; and SEED Project, Senegal.
The semi-finalists were: SAKALA, Haiti; HODI Africa, Kenya; Moving the Goalposts, Kenya; Magic Bus Centre, India, and the Guam Basketball Federation, Guam.
CSCI has been involved in the Sport for Development movement for many years working with Beyond Sport; FIVB; NORCECA; USTA; NCAA; Love Futbol; US Soccer Foundation; Nancy Lieberman Foundation; Coaches Across Continents, and other leading sports organizations that support the movement.